Blue Dart Announces General Price Increase w.e.f. January 1, 2020

Blue Dart Express Limited, South Asia's premier express air and integrated transportation, distribution and logistics Company announced its General Price Increase (GPI), effective January 1, 2020. The average shipment price increase will be 9.8% as compared to 2019, dependant on the shipping profile. While the price increase will apply to all customers signed up until 31st August 2019, those signing up between 1st – 30th September 2019 will continue to enjoy benefits at the existing rates, till 31st December 2020. This is generally applicable to sign ups between October to December of the previous year.

Commenting on the announcement, Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart said, “Blue Dart offers a wide range of innovative and simplified solutions across industry verticals. We will continue to create differentiated delivery capabilities, quality services and customized solutions with an unwavering focus on delivering our core competencies of reliability and responsiveness. The price adjustment will allow us to further enhance our capabilities and enable us to delight our customers by providing them high quality solutions and services, best-in-class technology and innovative products”.

Ketan Kulkarni, CMO & Head - Business Development, Blue Dart adds, “Blue Dart being the leaders in the express logistics industry and a trade facilitator for the country has made strategic investments ahead of the curve to remain agile and adaptive in a dynamic environment. These include expanding our reach, improving transit times, network optimisation, infrastructure and technology solutions and focusing on emerging markets, SMEs and key sectors”.

Blue Dart adjusts its prices annually, taking into account inflation, currency dynamics, fuel cost fluctuations and other rising regulatory and mandatory costs, such as expenses related to compliance for the workforce with enhanced security regulations across the large number of locations it services.

About Blue Dart: Blue Dart Express Ltd., South Asia's premier express air and integrated transportation & distribution company, offers secure and reliable delivery of consignments to over 35,000 locations in India. As part of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s DHL eCommerce Solutions division, Blue Dart accesses the largest and most comprehensive express and logistics network worldwide, covering over 220 countries and territories, and offers an entire spectrum of distribution services including air express, freight forwarding, supply chain solutions, customs clearance etc.

The Blue Dart team drives market leadership through its motivated people, dedicated air and ground capacity, cutting-edge technology, wide range of innovative, vertical specific products and value-added services to deliver unmatched standards of service quality to its customers. Blue Dart's market leadership is further validated by its position as the nation’s most innovative and awarded express logistics company for exhibiting reliability, superior brand experience and sustainability which include recognition as one of ‘India's Best Companies to Work For’ by The Great Place to Work® Institute, India, ranked amongst ‘Best Multinational Workplaces in Asia’ by The Great Place to Work® Institute, Asia,  voted a ‘Superbrand’ and ‘Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand’, listed as one of Fortune 500’s ‘India's Largest Corporations’ and Forbes ‘India's Super 50 Companies’ to name a few.

'Punjab Must Move On from Agriculture to Manufacturing and Services'

By Manu Sharma

India witnessed unprecedented food production during the 1970s, 1980s, and this phenomenon implemented primarily by the farmers of Punjab was proclaimed as the Green Revolution. However, after dominating the agriculture sector in the country, Punjab will now focus more on the manufacturing and services sectors to boost its economy and create jobs, according to a Punjab minister.

While presiding over the session on Punjab industrial scenario during the 8th Invest North organised by CII recently in Bengaluru, Punjab State Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal says, "Punjab is India's bread basket for the last many decades, must now shift from food grains to industries and leave the agriculture part to states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh. Punjab is now open to big businesses and need to must catch up with states like Maharashtra and Karnataka."

Making a strong call to entrepreneurs and industrialists, the finance minister Badal asked them to make huge investments in the state as it has an investor friendly climate coupled with lucrative incentives and concessions. Giving a clarion call to the entrepreneurs and industrialists, he said in order to boost industrialization and revive economic activity in the state, the Punjab government has already approved the new Industrial and Business Development Policy-2017, paving the way for fixing of industrial power tariff at ₹ 5 per unit. He adds that we have a number of SEZs and mega parks for IT, biotechnology and also food parks in the state.

The minister recalled the unparalleled contributions of Punjab in steering India to its independence. He said that since time immemorial, Punjab has been the cradle of civilization and culture, and its immense contribution to feeding the nation and securing the country’s borders from external as well as internal aggression has rightly earned it the epitaph of ‘Food Bowl and Sword Arm of India’.

Unfortunately, Punjab has passed through turbulent times, including the decade-long terrorism and violence that retarded its economic growth and prosperity during those dark days, said Badal adding that Punjabi's with their indomitable spirit again put the state back on the rails of development.

Vijay Inder Singla, Minister for Education and Public Works, Government of Punjab said that Punjab is the future destination for investment, building confidence is very important for the state government. Major investment like textiles, tractors, Pharma are already happening in Punjab and now needs to catch up with the other industries.

The 'Invest North' summit was organised by the Indian High Commission in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

78 Specially-Abled Stars Perform with Dance & Music at Orion Avenue

 

Awing audiences with their spectacular talents, the specially-abled performers who participated in Varata walked off stage with a smile on their faces. Exceeding expectations, the unique talent show organised by Orion Avenue (Formerly known as Orion East Mall) in association with Kalpavriksha turned out to be a massive crowd puller. Held on August 31 at Orion Avenue in Cooke Town, the event was well-received for being a credible platform for the specially-abled to showcase their talents. In total 78 participants along with their parents came from Kerala, Mysore and Bangalore to take part in the event.

“We are both honoured and elated to have been able to organise such an event that has immense potential for positive social impact. Orion Avenue holds a certain allure that draws the urban crowd of Bangalore to it. And on this occasion, along with support from Kalpavriksha, known for their social outreach initiatives, the mall turned out to be the perfect venue for Varata. The event was conceived to portray the specially-abled as capable and talented individuals. Judging by the audience response, it was an overwhelming success in fulfilling that goal. Personally speaking, it was indeed a joy to see these amazingLoveperformers receive the adulation and respect that they rightly deserve” opines Shashie Kumar, COO – Retail.

AICRA and East West Group of Institutes Create World Record for Largest Robotic KIT at Bengaluru

All India Council for Robotics & Automation (AICRA), in association with Technoxian and East West Group of institutes (EWGI) has created a world record in Bengaluru. The record was for ‘Largest Robotic KIT making training (multiple locations)’. Over 2000 students from EWGI assembled at the institute’s campus at Magadi Road for a day long workshop robotics conducted by the Technoxiam team.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Vijay Kumar Hegde, Inventor, Susi Global Research Center in the presence of Mr. Tejas Kiran, Head of placements and corporate relations , East West Group of Institutes; Anuj Jain , State coordinator, Karnataka , AICRA and other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Mr. Vijay Kumar said “Robotics is the need of the hour and will have a growing demand in the future. I am very happy to have this opportunity to inaugurate this spectacular event. Students should learn and develop new skills that make them more industry ready. I applaud  AICRA, EWGI and Technoxian for this brilliant initiative and would like to congratulate all the students who took part in creating history”

Vijay Kumar Hegde is a inventor who has designed various low cost and effective devices. He has successfully designed and implemented a model to create electricity from tidal waves. He also recently launched a low cost and energy saving oven that would reduce the consumption of fuel by over 60%

“History has been created today and we at East West Group of Institutions are proud to be the only institute in the city to be a part of this. At EWGI we believe in providing our students with the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. This is a legacy we have built over the past 50 years of our academic journey. We wish to come up with more such initiatives that will benefit our students” said Mr. Tejas Kiran,Head of placements and Corporate Relations at East West Group of Institutes

East West Group of Institutions (EWGI), is a well known and prominent group of educational institutions that crowns absolute place among the top colleges in Bengaluru. The institutions were founded by a philanthropist and social worker, Shri. C. M.NAGARAJ in 1968, seizing the limelight as a vision for its reputation in the realm of higher education. Today, the institutions have become the treasure house of knowledge to thousands of enthusiastic student communities across the globe. 

Commenting on the successful completion of the record, Mr. Anuj Jain , State coordinator, Karnataka , AICRA said “ This program was aimed at helping all the robotic enthusiasts in inculcating a certain way of creating confidence about robotics. This program has taught students that practically working on various activities on robotics is moreover easy when practiced and done in the right way. With this initiative we wish to fire up the hidden passion and enthusiasm of the student towards the new and innovative technology which will be a major motivator in the coming future. We are glad that we were part in facilitating this historic event”

Council for Robotics & Automation (AICRA) a not-for-profit organization is the apex body, setting up standards in Robotics & Automation and education industry as well as helping over 35,00+ members organizations and professionals to solve difficult technical problems, while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities.

Honda ‘Africa Twin True Adventure Camp’ Reaches Bengaluru to Explore the Adventure DNA

Aiming at catering to adventure enthusiasts across the country, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. conducted Chapter 2 of its nationwide initiative - ’Africa Twin True Adventure Camp’ in Bengaluru last weekend.

Being the hub of adventure seekers and travel aficionados, the Bengaluru phase witnessed over 30 participants in the 2-day camp conducted at the Bigrock Dirtpark (Kolar Taluk, Karnataka).

Setting the camp apart was the training and counsel provided on motorcycling and off-roading by Mr. Vijay Parmar, President of Himalayan Motorsports Association along with his team of subject experts in a fun and interactive way.

Africa Twin True Adventure Camp is a combination of both theoretical and practical sessions wherein the riders brush up their basics and learn more about the advanced features of Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), different modes of riding for different terrains and other off-road capacities of the Africa Twin motorcycle. Boosting up rider confidence, special sessions were also given to expose participants to other factors like humps, underground turns, gravel, pits and dirt tracks.

Speaking on the start of the boot-camp, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President -Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “The city of Bengaluru has always seen ardent adventure enthusiasts. Africa Twin True Adventure Camp activity brings together the enthusiasts and the experts making riders experience more adventurous. The interactions between the communities enhanced the learning’s & skills to explore the full potential of this machine across all terrains.

The adventure camp activity will further make its way to Mumbai and Kochi shortly.

Tata Motors Unveils #Dark Edition of Flagship SUV – The Tata Harrier for the Upcoming Festive Season

To kickstart the celebrations in the upcoming festive season across the country, Tata Motors today announced the launch of the #Dark Edition of its flagship SUV – the Tata Harrier. This edition comes soon after Tata Motors announced the launch of dual tone variants of the Harrier to celebrate 10,000 customers of the company's flagship product.

The #Dark edition of the Harrier will offer a total of 14 design enhancements to make it a perfect blend of design flourish and premiumness. The New Atlas Black colour is complemented with R17 Blackstone Alloys and other changes in the exterior to make it a head turner. The interiors are completely refreshed to offer an all new Blackstone theme- with the Premium Benecke Kaliko Blackstone Leather upholstery, Blackstone Matrix dashboard and a new Gunmetal Grey chrome pack which further accentuates the interiors.

The #Dark edition, in the new stunning Atlas Black colour packaged with striking black exteriors and interiors, further accentuates Harrier’s powerful stance while maintaining the natural elegance of a premium SUV. The #Dark Edition will be available in XT and XZ variants. The Harrier range starts from Rs.12.99 Lakh onwards, ex-showroom Delhi.

Commenting on the launch of this limited edition, Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Head Marketing, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “In line with our endeavour to take the style quotient of the Harrier even higher, we wanted to offer a product that would make heads turn. The colour Black has always been desired amongst car buyers across the SUV segment. To meet these aspirations and to mark the onset of the festive season, we have launched the Harrier #Dark Edition today in a completely new avatar with a compelling package of striking exteriors and inviting interiors with 14 design enhancements. We are confident our customers will appreciate the Harrier in this look as much as they have appreciated the Harrier since its launch.”

The Harrier, which is built on the OMEGARC and derived from Land Rover's legendary D8 platform, is the perfect combination of stunning design and excellent performance. Powered by the cutting-edge Kryotec 2.0 Diesel engine and Advanced Terrain Response Modes, Harrier assures an exhilarating performance on the toughest of terrains.

The Yoga Institute Wins Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Yoga

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has felicitated The Yoga Institute, Mumbai with the Prime Minister's Award for Outstanding Contribution for Promotion and Development of Yoga for the year 2018-19. The prestigious award was presented in the category of ‘National Institute’ at a special ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan.

In recognition of the honour, the Prime Minister said, “The Yoga Institute has set the standard for yoga education, research, publication, innovation and creativity. This award is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and philanthropic vision of its founders.”

Smt Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra, Director the The Yoga Institute – Mumbai, received the award from the Prime Minister. She said, “On behalf of everyone at The Yoga Institute, I would like to thank our Hon’ble Prime Minister and the AYUSH committee members for this honour. We are humbled to be recognized for all the hard work done by the Institute over the last 100 years. We are committed to upholding this legacy and shall always remain at the service of India, and the world.”

The Yoga Institute was established in 1918 by Shri Yogendraji, also known as the Father of Modern Yoga Renaissance, and celebrated its centenary milestone on 25 December 2018. A non-profit organization, it is also the oldest organized center for Yoga in the world, and the first Yoga institute to be certified by the Quality Council of India. Every day, 1,500+ people visit the Institute to learn and practice Yoga. With the three generations of the Yogendra family and more than 50,000 teachers trained globally, The Yoga Institute is working relentlessly to make Yoga a way of living.